ARTISAN ANGELO MARINOSCI … SONGSTER, POET AND PHOTOGRAPHER

Normally I would write the article on the people I find fascinating and worth promoting but in this artist’s case I can’t do justice to his story. This singer, songwriter, poet and photographer has over 1300 songs alone on Fandalism and Youtube and he keeps spinning them out with no sign of slowing down. You probably wouldn’t believe all the things I would tell you about this gentleman. So I’ll let it come from the man himself. Here is Angelo ‘Papa’ Marinosci.

Angelo ‘Papa’ Marinosci

“I was born in 1947 so I’ll soon to be a thousand years old. I began making music, much like everyone, in my early teens on a cheap little folk guitar. My early experiences with making music were a mixed bag of Country-Western, and Bluegrass, and a touch of Folk… while I was still dancing to Rock & Roll and listening to progressive Jazz. I am unstudied in music but hold a number of degrees in Art and Art Education. I worked and traveled in (Photo) Journalism and other different areas of Photography throughout my life and exhibited Painting (Metaphysical-Surrealism) and Photography (Street Candids) as well as playing out as a Musician (solo folk performer).

As with many self-taught musicians, I lusted after most experiences in music. I liked sitting in on, or creating, Jam-sessions. I liked concerts, festivals, bars, coffee houses, open mics…you name it. That changed as I began writing/creating more original materials when I started seeking out true listening audiences. As with my other art forms and activities, I never wanted to be mainstream, but was always looking for my audience. Most of my painting is probably of little or no interest to most people, and the same can be said of my photography…and for my music as well. I have no interest in a commercial success, but rather, finding my audience that can enjoy what I do. I claim either very few influences but I know that probably every sound I’ve ever heard has had some sort of effect on my relationship to every sound I make. Personally, I enjoy most art and photography and music.

At Common Fence Point Concert

I believe that Art, all art, is like a mirror…. People see or hear what they want or need to see or hear in what they expose themselves to. I like to think that my work is universal in some meaningful and honest way. What I make or show or sing; renders me open and vulnerable…it exposes me completely. It’s truly a universal language… it’s not about fame or fortune or stardom… it’s about meaningful self expression.

My photography has mostly been about the world out there, my painting has mostly expressed my inner world, and my music has been the sum total of my philosophical glue, my religion, that holds it all together. It’s not about mixture of colors, or chord progressions or choice of lenses (that’s just nuts and bolts) …its about the inherent aesthetic that I hope to have “woven” throughout my life and have tried to present it in some meaningful and honest way.

Children of Nicaragua – 1987 Angelo on location with children of war

When I sing and play, I like to have small receptive audiences so that I can sing from the heart and play to my best ability… not to impress, but to share and hopefully be shared.
Most of my songs have been created spontaneously and straight from the heart without filter or scrutiny; with out overworking and wearing down the texture of the original idea.
A good piece of art should ask more questions that it answers. I use some of my experiences or even borrowed experiences, or lucid dreams, to feed my process. In the end I am only one small voice that I hope will be heard.

A few years ago I was invited to join a music site and began contributing my musical posts on-line and was thankfully well received. As my age stood out on this youth oriented new media, I soon affectionately acquired the nick-name “Papa”…which then caught on as “Papa Angelo.” I was honoured… having only just become a father a few years earlier, and having called my own father “Papa” …which means father in Italian and whose name was Angelo…I felt well prepared to use my new label.

Papa and Arca at NYC-2012

I’ve earned and learned the value of nicknames and titles in life. When I was a youngster I was called “Junior” by my friends and family, not to be confused with my father… later I was Sergeant Marinosci during my military service… and then Professor Marinosci in the classroom when I taught college, and even “Uncle Jay” when I was hosting on radio for several years. I’m sure I’ve been called worst by some folks but “Papa Angelo” is an honorary title and I use it proudly.

Today, my brand of music is considered Americana-folk-blues and I proudly make it and hope it is worthy of the traditions it represents. In my own estimation, I have a fair voice, some ability on guitar and related instruments and I write pretty good songs. I hope my honest delivery is what people enjoy the most…enough to share it as I have.”

Below are just a few examples of Angelos’s work.  You can find more here and here